The president of the United States, Donald Trump, stated this Wednesday that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will speak on Thursday, amid the talks between both countries to reach a ceasefire.
“We are trying to give some breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It’s been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. Tomorrow it will happen. Brilliant!“Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2, when the pro-Iran Hezbollah movement attacked Israel.
Since then, Israeli attacks have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced more than a million in Lebanon, despite international calls for a ceasefire, according to the AFP news agency.
Announcing Thursday’s talks, Trump did not identify the leaders who would participate in the dialogue.
A senior U.S. official previously said his country “wants to see lasting peace but does not demand a ceasefire,” and “negotiations between the United States and Iran are not conditional on peace dialogue between Israel and Lebanon.”
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited two objectives on Wednesday in his talks with Lebanon: “First, the dismantling of Hezbollah; second, a sustainable peace (…) achieved by force“.
